Circle U. pilot project 2020-2023

The objective of Work Package 1 (WP1) is to establish efficient management and well-functioning quality assurance of Circle U. Erasmus+ and Circle U. ERIA projects.

In order to reach these objectives, we will work on the following building blocks:

Governance building blocks

• An efficient governance structure striking the right balance between allowing good coordination and decision-making and avoiding administrative burdens, including a budget framework to ensure enduring Circle U. activities.
• A Circle U. quality assurance framework monitoring the construction of the Alliance and providing a joint quality assurance service specifically for learning activities and programmes developed by Circle U., to ensure high-quality added value of the collaborative educational initiatives.

Coordination

WP1 is jointly coordinated by the University of Oslo (for the aspects related to Erasmus+ project), Université Paris Cité (for the aspects related to the SwafS project) and the Secretary General (for the aspects related to the Management Board and transversal development of Circle U.).

King's College London brings a unique expertise in setting up the quality assurance process (Monitoring, Evaluating and Learning (MEL)) that has been selected for the Alliance.

The objectives of Work Package 2 are to raise the international exposure of students and staff substantially as well as to improve the social and academic integration of students.

The activities in Work Package 2 will develop a joint policy and IT infrastructure framework for cooperation and mobility within the Circle U. Alliance. To reach these objectives, we will work on the following building blocks:

Systems and infrastructure

• A joint policy framework implementing policies alongside kickstarting initiatives, evaluating and adjusting the framework. 
• A joint system for mutual recognition of student status, courses, credits and results. 
• IT infrastructures implementing virtual classrooms and a portal to share courses. 
• Bottom-up initiatives to kick-start mobility. 
• Activities bridging the way into university, among them student-driven initiatives and a joint mentorship programme.

Coordination

Due to its extensive experience in the successful management of mobility projects and academic and social integration initiatives, Aarhus University coordinates this work package.

The objective of Work Package 3 is to establish an innovative collaboration model linking education and research and connecting partner universities.

In order to reach this objective, we will develop one of the main building blocks of the Alliance: The Circle U. Academic Chair Programme.

Creating an innovative academic ecosystem

The Academic Chair Programme forms the core of Circle U.'s ambition to create an innovative academic ecosystem.  As Chairs, active researchers will spend 20 per cent of their time cooperating across institutions to shape developments in research and teaching.

Strong and sustainable connections across our universities

The programme will ensure strong and sustainable connections across universities, between research, teaching and learning, and between students and staff. It will also allow students to be engaged in curriculum development and knowledge creation. 

Fostering a sense of belonging to our European University 

By establishing a web of collaborations, we also want to foster a sense of belonging to one European University, where students and professors navigate in diverse and innovative academic, social and cultural learning environments. 

Coordination

King's College London has a robust expertise when it comes to transformative approaches to internationalising the curriculum, placing an emphasis on diversity and flexibility.

The objectives of Work Package 4 are to increase students' engagement in innovation approaches to sustainability and to co-develop and implement challenge-based courses and programmes across universities and disciplines.

In order to reach these objectives, we will work on three building blocks: 

• Develop the concept for Circle U. Challenge, where cross-disciplinary teams of students provide solutions to authentic problems provided by associated partners such as cities and hospitals.
• Setting up a Female Founder Network where network members motivate more female students to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Implement an online training programme on sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.

Coordination

Due to its experience as a bridge between academia and businesses and building on the expertise of its Business Technology Incubator, Center for Technology Transfer and Science Technology Park, the University of Belgrade coordinates this work package.

The objectives of Work Package 5 are to develop thriving structures where researchers and students co-create knowledge and solutions with external stakeholders, and engage in policy development.

Knowledge Hubs and the Open School of Public Governance 

Three interdisciplinary Knowledge Hubs on Climate, Democracy and Global Health. These are thematic areas where we can pool our existing strengths within education, research and innovation, to make a substantial impact.

We will build an interdisciplinary Open School of Public Governance. The School will integrate public governance with Circle U\u2019s interdisciplinary research on the three thematic areas. Students will actively contribute to and shape activities, and through this interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder engagement, they will acquire and develop transferable skills.

Circle U. synergies for a common scientific agenda

The activities in this WP will also facilitate synergies between education and research. We lay the foundation for and start creating a common scientific agenda for Circle U. 

Our associated partners play a significant role in this work package, contributing to co-developing novel challenge-based learning practices with our staff and students, to bring in new perspectives and to provide work-based learning experiences for our students.

Coordination

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will take advantage of its heavy investment in strengthening the links between research excellence and excellence in student-centred learning. Humboldt also has a strong base in inter- and trans-disciplinary environmental research. It has a growing body of discipline-based and interdisciplinary classes pertaining to sustainability that Circle U. will benefit from when setting up its new structures.

The objective of Work Package 6 is to make Circle U. a proactive agent in defining the future of higher education in Europe.

In order to reach this objective, we will develop a Think and Do Tank. 

Establishing a Think and Do Tank to impact the European Education Area 

The Think and Do Tank will enable students and external stakeholders to engage in discussions on the role of higher education in an evolving global landscape.  In parallel, they will be drivers for transforming curricula and teaching methods towards sustainable education. We will proactively contribute towards the development of the European Education Area by 2025 and in the years thereafter. The Think and Do Tank will benefit from the expertise of academics and educational experts appointed in the framework of the Academic Chair Programme.

Importance of multilingualism

Among the first themes to be addressed by the Think and Do Tank will be the exploration of challenges related to multilingualism and raising policy awareness on this issue.

Coordination

Due to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (CRI) at Université Paris Cité being a spearhead of innovative and interdisciplinary programmes and holding a Unesco Chair for Learning Science, Université Paris Cité coordinated this work package.

The objectives of Work Package 7 are to establish sustainable support for research and educational projects within Circle U. and to become an open and vivid European University alliance.

In order to reach these objectives, we will work on three building blocks: 

• Establishing a support service for research and educational projects.
• Creating a joint communication and dissemination strategy.
• Setting up Circle U.'s basis for Open Science and Open Education.

Coordination

UCLouvain leads this work package to take advantage of its proximity to European Union headquarters and to the numerous professionals in the field of higher education and research based in Brussels. It is also ideally placed to disseminate the findings of the Think and Do Tank in Paris among European policymakers. Finally, it has been active as a digital university and is pleased to coordinate the Circle U. approach to Open Science and Open Education.